First Indonesian-Developed Satellite To Be Launched In October

The Indonesian National Aeronautics and Space Agency (Lapan) is expected to launch the first Indonesian-developed satellite next October, a milestone that will put the country on the world map of space technology.
The micro-satellite Lapan-Tubsat would be launched into orbit in late October to take pictures of regions affected by the disasters that have plagued the country recently, including volcanoes, earthquakes, forest fires and tsunamis, the Jakarta Post newspaper reported Thursday.

"The satellite will carry a video camera that will feed us real-time pictures. It will be different from the existing satellite, which gives us a one- or two-week delay," Lapan Chairman Adi Sadewo Salatun was quoted as saying by the daily.